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Anyone used James stobaughs literature
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“For such a time as this”? Just wondering how it is laid out? And if it is as rigorous as it claims to be?
Hi Binky,
I just picked his book on SAT and college prep book written for Christian students (published late ’90s) at a used curricilum sale. It is well laid out based on reading loads of literature. It is a more rigorous pursuit of literature than I had my older three attempt. It gives simple charted plans in the beginning for 1-3 years worth of daily study with Bible being the first focus of each day. Thought provoking questions about life goals, math prep, critical thinking, testing tips, and vocabulary studies are also simply listed on each page. I’d think the book you’ve mentioned would be similar in rigor. I’m thankful for his commentary on each book and why it would be good to read it. He also gives enough information that I can go over with our children if it seems to be one that we’d disagree with him and want to avoid.
I know it’s not the book about which you are inquiring, but he seems to me helpful, encouraging, and genuinely concerned with each student’s salvation as being more important than any other part of their education.
Hth,
Becca<><
Ok, I’m thinking this is a curriculum design more than a specific title.
Free samples at his website may help.
Hi Binky, I had his older version of the American Lit curriculum several years ago. I remember very little about it, but I do remember that it was quite rigorous. I am sure that any of his newer stuff will be too. I thought it looked wonderful, but we ended up not using it because my daughter was doing a lot of the same stuff at a class she was taking. From what I remember, there was lots of primary source reading material and analysis of such in light of the Bible. He seemed to be training the student to look at everything from a biblical worldview, which I appreciated. Sorry I can’t be of more help. I was very impressed with his curriculum at the time and I will be looking at it again as my next round of kids hits high school age.
I’d love to hear more about his curriculums, if anyone’s used them. I was reading about an intro course, and a British lit course this morning on his site – both looked SO good but I was unsure about the scheduling – LOTS of writing assignments, and I was trying to get a feel for how fast and furious they might be, and how quickly they go through the books.
Evergreen,
I just emailed him this morning to ask a guest ion about his jr high course. I got a quick reply. Very personal reply directly from him. Also, on reading on his site he recommends that kids read about 200 pages a week from good lit. The pages can be from all reading sources I.e. literature, history, etc.
I am really liking the looks of this course. It looks very intensive which scares me a little bit but if I shy away from rigorous I think I will be doing my kids a disservice.
Binky
Binky thank you, maybe I will peruse some more and then ask him my questions. It does look rigorous but I have a boy who is practically crying out for rigorous and would be glad for it, I think. So the Jr high course, you can read whatever you like? I think my son would really like something that does analysis of particular works, and gives background and information about it as well. I think the HS classes do this, yes?
Thanks!
Aimee
In the jr high curriculum he has a book called “Companion to 50 classics”. I just got off the phone with him. He recommended his writing mentorship program. He actually teaches and grades essays written by the kids enrolled in the program. ( have not looked at cost for that) but his rhetoric courses are on sale right now with free shipping. He was very helpful and encouraging.
I really liked the samples of the high school american lit that I looked at.
Binky
Writing Mentorship is very expensive. $525 for the year. and then you still have to buy the course material. I will not go this route but might still consider the curriculum really just because the literature choices are laid out for me and I really have no idea how to do that on my own. Has anyone looked at Jensens format writing recommended on CMhelp? or does anyone have recommendations for literature help. I need just a list of books by grade level to follow and then ideas of what to do with them. Unless I do what SCM says and just read literature for enjoyment but then where do you get your ideas for composition. I can’t even come up with what they should read. AArrgh.
Aimee- did you look at this any further? what did you think?
I purchased my Stobaugh literature guides through Christian Book Distributors inexpensively. As far as the Stobaugh guides go, (I have Skills in Literary Analysis, American Literature, British Literature, and World Literature) there is not a lot of info in the guides about teaching how to write essays. The content is rather thin in these books, although the required three essays can be quite hefty. I like having these on my shelf to pick through for discussion and essay ideas, but I would recommend something else to teach essay writing.
Janell,
Have you looked at the Jensens Writing? I wonder if I could pair the two? I could use stobaughs for the ideas and literature choices and then use jensens for the essay writing. I have IEWs student writing intensive(debating on whether to send it back or not) do you have an opinion on IEW for writing. Jim Stobaugh says it is a horrible program but LOTS of people use it. What about Writing The Essay that Sonya recommends? Anyone else who has experience with these feel free to chime in.
Binky
Just looking on CBD…janell, do you purchase both the student book and the teachers book? Have you seen any of the DVDs? are they worth getting?
Hi, Binky.
Yes, you need to purchase both books in the set because the teacher’s guide has different info. The DVD goes over the lessons briefly and gives some insight into the author’s intent for the course. I haven’t used Jensen’s writing or Sonya’s recommendation but they would be fine. I do have experience with IEW. I don’t teach the stylized portions of IEW, but the format instructions are good. I went to a seminar this Feb. and heard Mr. Pudewa explain that, although IEW begins with the five paragraph essay, it does include instructions in format variations of the basic essay making it a flexible program. My brother in law is a 39 year old seminary student who uses IEW’s super essay model to write praise worthy essays for his courses. If IEW is already working for you or you want to experiment with it, I say go for it.
Janell
I have not used my IEW yet but had bought it to use this coming school year. Can you explain to me the differences in the stylized portions and the format portions? Is that incorporated into each of the courses or is that different writing programs that you buy from IEW? Thanks for all your information.
Just an observation: I’ve noticed other writing instruction authors/tutors that have criticized IEW as not being a good program. Wouldn’t that be the case if you want to sell your version of writing instruction? ;0)
I had the TWSS on the shelf for year’s before I could actually implement it. Once we started using the theme based writing lessons (everything planned out based on a theme,) we’ve done fine. Reason being, I didn’t take the time to utilize the successions in TWSS on my own.
If you need something to help you teach writing other than building on copywork, narration, studied dictation, and imparting your own understanding of the process, IEW is very helpful, if you use it. If not, send it back to them and get your money back to try something else. My bad habit in the past has been to assume something I’m not using is not working. That is not a faulty curriculum. That is a bad habit. 🙁 I’m embarrassed by the fact that I’ve had that mindset. But, it’s true. Because I couldn’t “see” how to implement it (read, wouldn’t take the time to put it into practice,) I thought it wasn’t a good fit because, truthfully, it would require more effort than I was willing to expend back then. I’m thankful that we began using the tbwl’s. They are manageable way for me to use IEW. Yes, after a year under my belt, I can “see” how I could use TWSS on my own, but I’m still willing to admit that I’m not willing to reinvent a wheel when I can buy one.
It also helped me “see” forward and backward with “curriculum guides.” If they work to keep us on track in a particular subject, I use them. If they e equipped me to “do my own thing,” I do that instead. I can see that my youngest especially may not use IEW because I’ll have gleaned enough of what I think is valuable from it and CM type / other writing suggestions that I’ll be able to ditch it and just help her learn to write through conversation and example.
Since you have it already, why not give it a deteined try to make certain whether you need something else, or not?
Hth,
Becca<><
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